PHILADELPHIA —A federal team is being dispatched to audit the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA’s) financial and management operations.
The move comes as the agency’s board suspended Executive Director Carl Greene amid reports that the PHA quietly settled a series of sexual harassment cases against Greene.
“We are very concerned about the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and so will be paying close attention to the [audit] team’s findings,” said Ron Sims, deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in a letter to PHA Chairman John Street.
Sims has asked the HUD team to report back their findings within 60 days.
Often credited with overhauling a troubled agency since arriving in Philadelphia in 1998, Greene has been under fire in recent weeks. He faced foreclosure on his condominium after falling five months behind on his payments.
Greene, who earned a $306,370 salary and a $44,188 bonus last year, has paid his mortgage through October and hired an accountant to review his finances, reported the housing authority.
He announced in August that he would be taking several weeks leave.
News also broke that Greene is involved in a sexual harassment suit involving a female employee. PHA officials said the agency’s insurance carrier has agreed to settle the claim.
Local news agencies have reported that several other sexual harassment suits had been resolved over the past several years. Board members said they were unaware of the settlements.
The board suspended Greene with pay on Aug. 26 while it investigates.
